Device for reading of x-ray films



Aug. 6, 1935. w. McCONALOGUE 2,010,551

DEVICE FOR READING OF X-RAY FILMS Filed March 8, 1934' I! HIIIIINVENTOR. W551 i Y H CON/7t 06 vi 6%, wfiw @M ATTORNEY):

Patented Aug. 6, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application March 8,

Claims.

This invention has to do with a device for the reading of X-ray films.The art of interpreting X-ray films is one which deals largely withshadows and varying density effects. In dentistry, for

5 example, the use of the X-ray in considering and studying the bonystructure of the jaw is increasing, as the condition of suchbonystructure may even indicate in advance conditions to be expected inteeth.

According to the invention the film is lighted by suitable light sourcesuch as an incandescent lamp, and inasmuch as different films vary indensity, an arrangement is provided to vary the incandescence of thelamp. The device also includes means for diffusing the light so that thefilm is subjected more or less uniformly to light over its surfaces, andthe arrangement is such that the film may be quickly placed in positionor removed. A lens is preferably incorporated in the device which isused to magnify the showing on the film, and this is particularly usefulin the detail consideration of small films, for example, films of thebony structure of a jaw.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view of a device constructed in accordance with theinvention, the view being in side elevation, and with one side of thedevice open to show the interior structure.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

The device for carrying out the invention may be of a simple structureand in fact it may be in the form of a casing or box preferably arrangedto be suitably mounted. The box may be made of sheet metal. As shown inFig. 1 the device may be in the form of a box having a side wall I,other walls 2 and 3 which may be termed top and bottom walls, inasmuchas these happen to be top and bottom walls as the device is shownherein, walls 4 and 5, and another side wall 6 which may be hinged tothe major portion of the device as at 1. The wall 6 may have a rim 8 fortelescopingly fitting over the main portion of the box; Any suitablefastening means may be used for holding the wall 6 in place.

The box may be suitably mounted, as for example, on a hinge H) so thatit may be swung 50 outwardly from a wall or other support I I for useand swung into close proximity therewith when not in use. One end of thebox is arranged to accommodate a light source, preferably anincandescent lamp. A suitable base or support therefore is shown at l5fastened to the end wall 1934, Serial No. 714,580

5 as by means of bolts or the like l6 while the conductor is shown at ITleading into the box. The lamp is illustrated at I8 in a socket l9preferably equipped with a controlling device for controlling, varyingor changing the ineandescence of the lamp. Such controlling devices arenow available on the market and one is illustrated herein within ahousing 20. The control is effected by shifting flexible elements suchas small chains, cords or small cables 2| and 22 which extend into thehousing 20 and are oppositely wound upon a control shaft 23. The shaftis journaled in the box and has an outside operating piece 24. Byturning the member 24 the incandescence of the lamp is varied.

Forwardly of the lamp is positioned alight diffusing device 25advantageously in the form of a piece of glass of opaleseent or frostedvariety. This glass may be held in place by wings 26 struck out of thesheet metal sides of the box and the glass may be placed into or removedfrom the closure by opening of the wall 6. This piece of glass dividesthe box into two compartments with the lamp in one of the compartments.For ventilating purposes some of the walls may be provided with struckout portions 21. to thus'form louvers for the flow of air currentsthrough the light compartment, thus serving to cool the same.

The film compartment is on the right hand side of the diffusion glass asFig. l is viewed, and the walls I and 6 are slotted as at 30 and 3| sothat a film may be passed into or through the compartment on the side ofthe glass opposite the light source. These slots may be provided bystriking out Wings 30 or 3| and leaving them substantially in theposition as shown, thus to define the portion of the film visible forconsideration, and to also serve to keep out other light. Thus the slots30 and 3| may be of generous portions making it very easy to insert afilm with the struck-out portions 32 serving to guide the film intoplace and serving to in effect reduce the size of the openings 30 and3|.

The end 4 may be provided with a collar like formation 35 of circularform for holding a magnifying glass or lens 36. The end of the collarmay be fashioned over as at 31 for abutting against one side of the lensand struck out portions 38 may hold the lens from the opposite side.

In the use of the device an operator may stand so as to look into thebox through the lens 36 and then the film may be positioned by insertionthrough one of the slots 30 or 3|. The glass 36 magnifies the size ofthe forms on the film so that they may be studied in detail and theincandescence of the lamp l8 may be varied by manipulation of theoperating piece 24. As above mentioned this light may be varied in theconsideration of shadows of varying densities in a given film and may bevaried also in consideration of separate films of difierent densities.The lamp I8 is advantageously one of the variety which providesillumination simulating daylight. To this end the lamp may be blued. Insome cases, however, where a dark room effect is desired, a red lightmay be used.

I claim:

1. A device for reading X-ray films, comprising a box, a light diffusingglass intermediate the ends of the box dividing the box intocompartments, a light source in one compartment, said box being of sheetmetal, one or more walls of the other compartment having inwardly struckwings providing openings for the insertion of a film located relativelyclose to the diffusing glass and remote from the end of the box at thesecond compartment, and the end of the box at the second compartmenthaving an inspection opening therein.

2. A device for reading X-ray films, comprising a box, a light difiusingglass intermediate the ends of the box dividing the box intocompartments, a light source in one compartment, said box being of sheetmetal, one or more walls of the other compartment having inwardly struckwings providing openings for the insertion of a film, and the end of thebox at the second compartment having an inspection opening therein, saidwings extending angularly and inwardly toward the light diffusing glassand away from the inspection opening.

3. A device for reading X-ray films, comprising a box, a light diffusingglass intermediate the ends of the box dividing the box intocompartments, and a light source in one compartment, said box being ofsheet metal, one or more walls of the other compartment having inwardlystruck wings providing openings for the insertion of a film, and the endof the box at the second compartment having an inspection openingtherein, said wings extending angularly and inwardly toward the lightdiffusing glass and away from the inspection opening to define the areaon the film which is visible from the inspection opening, and amagnifying lens in the inspection opening.

4. A device for reading X-ray films, comprising an elongated box, alight source in one end of the box, an inspection opening at the otherend of the box, a light difiusing glass between the inspection openingand the light source and spaced from the inspection opening, the boxwalls having one or more slots therein for the passage therethrough of afilm between the light diffusing glass and the inspection opening, andmeans hingedly mounting the box to a support at a corner adjacent theend of the box having the light source.

5. A device for reading X-ray films comprising, a box, a cover for thebox for closing the same and openable for access to the interior of thebox, a light difiusing element in the box dividing the same intocompartments, a light source in one compartment, the wall of the boxopposite the compartment with the light source having an inspectionopening therein, a lens in said opening, some of the walls of the boxbeing of sheet metal, at least one of the sheet metal walls having aslot therein formed by cut-away sheet metal, the said slot communicatingwith the compartment next adjacent the inspection opening, and said slotbeing positioned in close proximity to the light difiusing elementwhereby film may be passed therethrough into the compartment nextadjacent the inspection opening and positioned immediately adjacent thelight difiusing element, and means on the box adjacent the end of thebox with the light compartment for hingeably mounting the box to asupport.

WESLEY MCCONALOGUE.

